Freeze/Thaw Cycle Explained
Freeze/thaw is beginning to come into full effect as temperatures rise and fall. This week’s unseasonably cold weather, mixed with snow has created muddy trails. Riding or walking on muddy trails can ruin them. It leaves ruts, contributes to erosion, and creates unridable, hard-to-fix trail surfaces requiring hours of volunteer labor to correct. If you are leaving a visible rut and/or footprints, the trail is too muddy to travel on. Help us spread awareness and encourage everyone to be considerate trail users. We want all to enjoy the outdoors!
One response we commonly hear regarding riding wet trails is “they fix themselves” and “mountain bikes have plenty of suspension to deal with trail damage.” No and no. Trail damage and erosion that occurs over time from proper use is a different beast than that which occurs as a result of abuse. Once a rut is formed, it is only aggravated by further travel and water, requiring hours of labor to correct. Also, those berms and flow we crave so much are no match for running water which takes the path of least resistance. Ruts create low spots trapping moisture that would otherwise run off the slope, further deepening over time forming mini canals that are perfect for grabbing your front tire and throwing you over the bars.
Above: On the left, you can see the damage caused from people walking around muddy spots. What started as a singetrack trail, has now been widened from improper use. On the right, you can see the beginnings of trail widening. Over time, these two paths will merge and lead to further slope and trail erosion, eventually making the trail impassable.
Damaged multiuse trails hinder access for all users, including hikers and trail runners. Once dry, the same damaged trails become a safety concern. This damage can even lead to trails closing for a long period of time due to repair.
Riding in wet and muddy conditions not only destroys trails, but kills drivetrains. Unless you like shelling out an extra couple hundred bucks for new brake pads, chain, and seals, or spending your Saturday cleaning every nook and cranny on your bike instead of riding; stay off muddy trails and plan for the weather! Trust us, we’ve been there before and it’s no fun.
Despite the winter-like temperatures, trail advocates warn that now is the worst time to hit the trails. It could look like fall in your yard or on the side of the road, but the reality is that it's not the same in the woods. There's still snow and ice on trails and even with some mud as it melts. The ground is beginning to try to freeze and can cause a muddy, sloppy mess
Tips for Trail Use During the Freeze/Thaw Cycle
Use your lawn as a trail barometer. Before you think of hitting the trails, take a ride on your lawn. If you can see your tracks sinking in, stay off the trails. They're not yet ripe.
Use mud season to build fitness by putting in some serious "base miles" on the road or gravel. If you don't have a gravel/road bike, lock out the fork and switch tires on your mountain bike and you'll feel super-charged. Most serious racers train on the road for good reason, and the fitness you'll develop will make your trail riding that much more pleasurable.
Do some urban or suburban assault rides. This is a great time if you're into technical riding to explore the neighborhood for ramps, steps, and other challenges that can hone your technical skills. Of course, respect your local neighborhood, while shredding the urban areas.
Ride on rail trails or other hardened bike paths. You'll be away from traffic, get some needed fitness, and feel good about yourself since you're doing the right thing by staying off the trails.
Use local knowledge to find areas that are free from mud and frost. Internet Forums are a great resource to find great riding. Check the "Trail Conditions" here to see where the good riding is… and where it isn't.
As the ground begins to freeze, think about the trails you ride and help to preserve them. A singletrack trail is a terrible thing to waste!
We know asking everyone to wait until all trails are 100% dry before venturing out is about is not very effective. No one likes being told what to do, especially in nature, however, we do ask that you take responsibility for your actions and consider the potential impact you are having now and down the road. Think about it this way: the more time trail volunteers have to spend repairing trails, the less time and effort they can allocate towards new and improved trails.
Furthermore, there are a number of tools available to keep you informed as to what’s rideable. We do our best to keep the site updated, as well as share trail reports across our social media channels including Facebook & Instagram. Additions, our trail group pages can be good resources for real-time trail conditions:
Happy trails, and remember to keep singletrack single!